Wreck of Fair Ellen - Northumberland & Northeast

The *Fair Ellen* isn’t about tropical colours or balmy water, but she offers something genuinely special for UK wreck divers. We love a site with a bit of history, and this steam trawler, sunk in 1917, has plenty. Dropping down, you’ll first pick out the stern, usually the most intact section, with the propeller still stubbornly attached, often hosting a grumpy crab or two. Follow the line of the hull forward and you’ll find the midships section, broken but still offering plenty of penetration opportunities for those with the right training and gear – we’re talking nooks and crannies filled with dead man's fingers and plumose anemones, creating a soft, colourful carpet over the corroding steel. It’s an atmospheric dive, often silty but rarely without interest, especially when the resident coalfish shoals swirl around the upright portions of the wreck. Our favourite time to dive her is on a calm slack tide, just after sunrise, when the light filtering down can really illuminate the details, and the currents aren't trying to pull you into Blyth. This site really suits divers who appreciate a good historical wreck and the hardy marine life that calls it home, more than those chasing sunshine and sharks.

Location

Northumberland & Northeast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

54.631123, -4.869554

Type

wreck

Marine Protected Area: Mull of Galloway